March 2020 – Page 3 – Spaceflight Now

Astra readies for possible launch attempt next week

March 21, 2020 Stephen Clark

After missing out on an opportunity to win up to $12 million in prize money through DARPA’s Launch Challenge earlier this month, Astra is gearing up for another possible orbital launch attempt next week from Alaska, the company’s chief executive said Friday.

Astronaut’s family won’t attend launch next month due to coronavirus threat

March 20, 2020 Stephen Clark

NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy’s family will be watching remotely from halfway around the world when he blasts off April 9 from Kazakhstan to begin a six-month expedition on the International Space Station.

Amid bankruptcy reports, OneWeb plans launch of 34 more satellites

March 20, 2020 Stephen Clark

OneWeb is gearing up for launch of 34 more satellites for its broadband Internet network Saturday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, despite reports that the company might seek bankruptcy protection and stringent restrictions on travel stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.

Facing pandemic, NASA shutters rocket factory, halts SLS and Orion testing

March 20, 2020 Stephen Clark

NASA announced Thursday that work on the Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket and Orion crew capsule at facilities in Louisiana and Mississippi is being halted due to the spreading coronavirus pandemic, a stoppage that could force further delays on the already behind-schedule and over-budget programs. Meanwhile, NASA officials are making plans to continue working on the agency’s next Mars rover to keep it on schedule for launch later this year, even if the virus forces further closures.

Apollo astronaut Al Worden dies at 88

March 19, 2020 Stephen Clark

Former astronaut Al Worden, who orbited the moon and performed the first spacewalk in deep space in 1971, died Wednesday in Texas. He was 88.

Video: Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from pad 39A (members only)

March 18, 2020 Stephen Clark

With nine engines firing, a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off Wednesday morning from launch pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida with 60 Starlink satellites on-board.

Falcon 9 rocket overcomes engine failure to deploy Starlink satellites

March 18, 2020 Stephen Clark

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket overcame a rare in-flight engine failure soon after launch from Florida’s Space Coast Wednesday to place 60 satellites in orbit for the company’s Starlink Internet network. Elon Musk, SpaceX’s founder and CEO, promised a “thorough investigation” of the engine failure before the next Falcon 9 launch.

NASA institutes mandatory agency-wide telework policy

March 17, 2020 Stephen Clark

All NASA centers and facilities will begin a mandatory telework policy for agency and contractor employees effective immediately, except for “mission-essential” personnel, to combat the threat from the coronavirus pandemic, officials announced Tuesday.

Soyuz launch preps in Kazakhstan proceed despite travel restrictions

March 17, 2020 Stephen Clark

While Arianespace missions from French Guiana have been suspended in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the company says a Soyuz rocket launch from Kazakhstan is set to go ahead Saturday with 34 more OneWeb broadband satellites.

SpaceX selected to launch Intelsat telecom satellite, NASA pollution monitor

March 17, 2020 Stephen Clark

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch an Intelsat communications satellite with a NASA-funded air pollution monitor to be positioned over the Americas in 2022, officials announced Tuesday.